David Harris' agents rip Jets for timing of cut. Do they have legit point?

FLORHAM PARK -- The Jets wanted longtime middle linebacker David Harris to play for less money in 2017. But after the two sides couldn't agree on a pay cut, the Jets on Tuesday released Harris, their longest-tenured player.

Harris, a respected locker room leader, had been with the Jets since they drafted him in 2007. Considering what a valuable part of their team he'd been -- plus the late timing of the release -- the news of Harris' departure was stunning.

And Harris' agents, who obviously are biased here, released a statement to ESPN that ripped the Jets for how they handled this situation.

"Very disappointing in the timing of this event and the decision. The Jets could have done this prior to free agency instead of waiting three months, especially for a player who has exhibited nothing but loyalty and class for 10 years."

Entering this offseason, Harris was one of several Jets veterans who seemed at risk to be cut. After all, Harris is 33 years old and was entering the final year of his contract. His salary cap figure ($6.5 million) comprised only his non-guaranteed base salary, so the Jets have no dead money attached to his release. Harris likely wasn't going to return to the Jets in 2018 anyway.

But once he survived an earlier wave of veteran cuts (Brandon Marshall, Nick Mangold, Darrelle Revis), it seemed Harris was safe, and that he'd play out his contract in 2017. But loyalty often means little to nothing in the NFL's harsh business reality.

From the perspective of Harris' agents, if the rebuilding Jets were going to cut him, earlier would've been preferable, since Harris would've had a chance to find a landing spot. His options now will be limited. He remains a solid player, but is naturally slowing down with age.

From the Jets' perspective, they had no reason to release Harris before free agency began in early March. Harris' contract was straightforward and team-friendly for 2017, with no guaranteed money deadlines in March that would've forced the Jets' hand with a release.

(Remember, too, that Harris got a nice chunk of change from the Jets when he re-signed in 2015 -- $15 million fully guaranteed, spread equally between his 2015 and 2016 salaries. That's very good money, considering Harris was 31 when he signed the deal.)

Cutting Harris in late February versus early June had the same salary cap ramifications for the Jets in 2017 -- $6.5 million in cap space created, with no dead money.

Plus, the Jets last week traded for a cheaper player, Demario Davis, who could replace Harris in 2017. Davis is entering the final year of his contract, and will carry a $3.8 million cap figure if he makes the team -- $2.7 million less than Harris. And it's not like the Jets wanted to keep Harris at the $6.5 million figure anyway.

Davis isn't nearly as successful as Harris, but Davis did play in coach Todd Bowles' Jets defense in 2015. The Jets probably figure they can get by with him (or another backup type) in 2017, as they continue their get-younger rebuild. And then they can revisit the middle linebacker spot next offseason, in free agency or the draft.

That's surely what the Jets were going to do anyway, even if Harris stuck around for 2017. Now, they're just getting an earlier start on life without him.